In late November to mid December 1962, Murry Wilson traveled to Europe for a trip combining promotional efforts on behalf of the Beach Boys and personal medical reasons.

On Wednesday, November 21, 1962, the day before Thanksgiving, Murry completed Department of State Form DSP-17, Passport Renewal Application, at the Los Angeles Passport Agency on Wilshire Boulevard.  Two days later, at 3:00 p.m., he paid five dollars and picked up his renewed passport in person.

Murry had to renew his passport because the last time he had used a passport was for a business trip to England and France (Paris) from September 4 through September 19, 1959.

He was under a tight deadline now as he stated on his application he planned to depart LA November 28 aboard Scandinavian Airlines to Denmark.  He indicated over the next seventeen days he would travel to West Germany, where the stated purpose of his visit was for medical reasons, Switzerland, and England.  It is unclear what medical reasons took Murry to West Germany or how many days he spent there.

On Monday, December 3, Murry wrote Dorinda and Hite Morgan on stationery from the Grand Hotel in Stockholm.  I transcribed the letter as written and spelling errors have not been corrected.

 
It is interesting to note in December 1962 Murry was still on friendly terms with the Morgans.  Their relationship soon turned acrimonious, but as the band’s first six months on Capitol drew to a close Murry reveled in sharing his promotional efforts with the Morgans.A few other things can be gleaned from Murry’s letter.First, he did not adhere to the itinerary he outlined on his passport application.  It is unclear whether he actually traveled to Switzerland.

Second, if he arrived in Stockholm December 3 after being in Copenhagen for two days, he may have departed LA sometime after November 28.  Alternately, he may have stayed in Copenhagen more than two days, but only the last two saw temperatures of thirty-two degrees.  It would seem unusual, however, for Murry to spend four days (November 29 to December 2) in Copenhagen, but only one day in Stockholm.

Third, Murry, and perhaps Hite, apparently thought the Falcons had covered “Surfin’ Safari” and Murry’s interest in seeking out the Falcons’ record arose from protecting Brian’s and Mike’s financial interest in the songwriter royalty and Hite’s interest in the music publishing.

 
Fourth, Murry was intent on promoting Capitol 4777, which was “Surfin’ Safari” backed with “409.”  Both songs were off the charts in the States and the follow-up single, “Ten Little Indians” (b/w “County Fair,” Capitol 4880), had been released November 26.  However, “Surfin’ Safari” was still popular in Europe and fueling sales of several EPs in several European countries.

 
Finally, it is unclear whether Murry visited Luxembourg or Amsterdam, Netherlands, or perhaps both countries.  The powerful Radio Luxembourg would have provided an important marketing opportunity for the Beach Boys.  I have been unable to find an audio file or transcription of Murry’s interview with Klas Burling on Sveriges Radio or any interview he may have done for Radio Luxembourg.  As Murry indicated in his letter, Burling provided him with a dub of the interview.  It is possible that dub was among Murry’s personal possessions when he passed away in June 1973 and part of his estate inherited by Audree Wilson which, upon her passing in 1997, she bequeathed to Carl Wilson’s son, Justyn.

Perhaps one day Audree’s collection will be made available for study by writers and historians dedicated to preserving the Beach Boys musical history and legacy.

A note of appreciation to Brad Elliott, author of Surf’s Up!  The Beach Boys on Record, 1961-1981, for the December 3, 1962, letter from Murry Wilson to Dorinda and Hite Morgan.
 
The Feature photo is Stockholm and shows the Grand Hotel framed in the distance between the Christmas tree and the yacht.